Share this Page

Cannavaro: ‘We approached Rooney, but he doesn’t suit our style’

Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian have “made an approach” for Wayne Rooney, according to the club’s boss Fabio Cannavaro.

Rooney’s future is up in the air at Manchester United with widespread reports this week claiming the England man is ready to leave the club in pursuit of regular first-team football.

And when United boss Jose Mourinho was asked about the 31-year-old’s future at Old Trafford he wasn’t very reassuring.

Mourinho said: “Of course I can’t guarantee (he will be here). I can’t guarantee that I’m here next week, how can I guarantee that a player is here next season?

Italian legend Cannavaro, who won the World Cup with Italy as a player, admits they opened discussions with the United player and Borussia Dortmund superstar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over potential transfers.

“We did make an approach for Rooney and Aubameyang,” Cannavaro told Tianjin TV. “For Rooney, it was just a chat because he simply doesn’t suit our style of play. No further discussion was necessary.

“The truth is we had more frequent contact with Aubameyang. Unfortunately, our bid was rejected by Borussia Dortmund, who said he was needed in this season’s Champions League.”

Sky Sports claim Rooney’s advisers have been approached by several Chinese Super League clubs who are willing to make him the world’s best-paid player, offering £750,000 a week.

Rooney, who did not travel to France for United’s Europa League game with St Etienne tonight, has 18 months left on his Old Trafford contract and an option of a 12-month extension.

The Chinese Super League transfer window closes on Tuesday, February 28.